Spartanburg teen killed Saturday by a falling tree while clearing a 4-wheeling trail

Published: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.

A Spartanburg teenager was killed Saturday afternoon by a falling tree.

Daniel Vladimirovich Prokhor, 17, was with friends at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday near 565 Wilkins Road in Campobello clearing an ATV trail when an accident caused a tree to fall on him, hitting him in the head.

The tree that was being cut down fell on another tree. The second tree fell on Prokhor.

Prokhor was taken by EMS to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m., according to a statement from Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger's office.

Daniel Prokhor's family, including four sisters, parents and cousins were gathered at the family's house in Boiling Springs Saturday night. His mother, Inna Prokhor cried restrained tears as she talked about her son.

“He was a very nice looking young man, handsome,” she said.

Daniel Prokhor recently left Byrnes High School to take accelerated home-school classes and finish his degree ahead of schedule and go to pilot school, she said.

The teenager was musical. He played the saxophone and piano and hoped to one day play the piano professionally. He was also active in his church.

It was church friends he was with when he died on Saturday, Inna Prokhor said.

By the time the friends knew the second tree was falling, there was no time for Daniel Prokhor to get out of the way.

<p>A Spartanburg teenager was killed Saturday afternoon by a falling tree.</p><p>Daniel Vladimirovich Prokhor, 17, was with friends at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday near 565 Wilkins Road in Campobello clearing an ATV trail when an accident caused a tree to fall on him, hitting him in the head.</p><p>The tree that was being cut down fell on another tree. The second tree fell on Prokhor. </p><p>Prokhor was taken by EMS to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m., according to a statement from Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger's office.</p><p>Daniel Prokhor's family, including four sisters, parents and cousins were gathered at the family's house in Boiling Springs Saturday night. His mother, Inna Prokhor cried restrained tears as she talked about her son.</p><p>“He was a very nice looking young man, handsome,” she said.</p><p>Daniel Prokhor recently left Byrnes High School to take accelerated home-school classes and finish his degree ahead of schedule and go to pilot school, she said. </p><p>The teenager was musical. He played the saxophone and piano and hoped to one day play the piano professionally. He was also active in his church.</p><p>It was church friends he was with when he died on Saturday, Inna Prokhor said.</p><p>By the time the friends knew the second tree was falling, there was no time for Daniel Prokhor to get out of the way.</p><p>“No one was expecting it to happen like that,” she said.</p>